Pulteney Bridge, Bath

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Pultney Bridge is one of the world's most beautiful bridges. Like the Ponte Vecchio in Italy, it is one of a handful of historic bridges in the world with shops built into it.

Built for William Pulteney by Robert Adams, the bridge was an attempt to connect central Bath to land on the other bank of the River Avon and make Pulteney's fortune. In spite of its practical origins it is surely the most romantic bridge in the gorld, best viewed from Parade Gardens park by the crescent weir.

Named after Frances Pulteney, heiress in 1767 of the Bathwick estate across the river from Bath, Pulteney Bridge is one of only four in the world lined by shops on both sides. The architect Robert Adam favoured a Palladian design, completed in 1774 it stood for less than 20 years in its original state. In 1792 alterations to enlarge the shops spoilt the elegance of the façades. Floods in 1799 and 1800 wrecked the north side of the bridge, which had been constructed with inadequate support. It was rebuilt to a poor version of the original, later having its windows altered by the shopkeepers of the day. The western end pavilion on the south side was demolished in 1903 for road widening and its replacement was not an exact match.

February 2010

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Built over the River Avon in 1775 is Pulteney Bridge. it's has a nice selection of shops built into it's structure it is one of only four bridges in the world that has shops across the full span on both sides and it is a grade 1 listed building.

On The Argyle road side of the bridge we went down some steps to the river side and had a walk past the rugby ground to North Parade Bridge before going back into town and had a drink at The Huntsman.

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One of only four bridges in the world lined with shops, this exquisite 18th-century bridge is one of the most admired structures in Bath.

It is very alike the Pontes Vecchio and di Rialto in Italy, where Robert Adam, its builder, obviously found his inspiration.

Stop in for a shopping break, or just take in the sight that is Pultney Bridge!

There is a gift shop there, where you can buy all your souvenirs.

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Pulteney Bridge is one of only four bridges lined with shops in the world. It was designed by Robert Adam in the 1770s to link already fashionable Bath with a planned new suburb to the east, Bathwick. Inspired by the Ponte Vecchio of Florence and Venice’s Ponte di Rialto, Adam planned a Palladian style bridge lined with small shops. Despite concerns that this would prove a bottleneck to traffic (other cities such as London and Bristol had only recently torn down any buildings still remaining on their bridges), the design was accepted by the landowner, William Pulteneny, and the bridge built.

The true elegance of Adam’s design was short-lived however, as shop owners added extensions, altered windows and raised the roofs. Then in 1800 a storm and resulting flood damaged the north side so badly that it had to be rebuilt. More alterations followed throughout the 19th century, but in the 20th concerns began to be raised about the loss of Adam’s masterpiece and the bridge was scheduled as a national monument in 1936. The City Council bought out all the shops, and despite interruptions caused by the Second World War, the bridge was restored in time for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Today the bridge is a charming destination, both for the quaint shops that line its interior, and for the pretty riverside views of its exterior. This shot from the south, incorporating the weir, is one of the classic shots of Bath. While taking it on this occasion I spotted a few café tables on the far side of the bridge and walked across to check them out. I discovered a stone stairway leading through an arch and down to a pathway along the river’s bank, and just where the passage emerged was the small Riverside Café. I bought an espresso and sat for a short while in this sheltered spot to enjoy the river views it afforded (see photo 3). The café also has home-made cakes and hot lunch dishes, which I didn't sample (but everything looked home-made and tasty), and is licensed.

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Pulteney Bridge, is one of the the few bridges in the world to host shops (and surprisingly large shops they are too). Most people make this the object of at least one of their photos to remember Bath by.

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In the centre of the city, spanning the River Avon, Pulteney Bridge is apparently one of only four bridges in the world that are lined with shops on both sides. Actually, when you're on the bridge it just seems like a normal road but when you view it from the river it's a wonderful piece of architecture. It was completed in 1773 and, along with the Royal Cresecent, has become a symbol of Bath's architecture.

You can get a close view of the bridge from the river walk which is accessed via some steps from the end of the bridge - see 'more photos'

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As we strolled into Bath from the train station, we headed along Manvers Street north, once you start to see the Abbey, you should start to see one of the prettiest views in Bath, that of the Pulteney Bridge spanning the River Avon. It was built in 1773 and said to be modeled after the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, one of only a few bridges to have shops lining the bridge. It's much prettier from the outside, when you cross it, the bridge looks like an ordinary street with shops.

The bridge was designed by Robert Adams and built for William Pulteney to connect his land holdings on the other bank of the Avon to central Bath. The Visitbath website says the best view is from the Parade Gardens park by the crescent weir, we were up at street level.

Bath sits on the River Avon, "avon" means river, it seems kind of silly to have a "River River". And this Avon is a different "River River" than the one in Stratford-upon-Avon, you think they could have given it a unique name.